Tour of Wexford August 5th 2012: supporting the Irish Pilgrimmage Trust.

michael196

The 2012 Tour of Wexford , promoted by Wexford Wheelers, and supporting the Irish Pilgrammage trust charity, features a leisure tour of some of Irelands' most scenic, wildest and oldest historic coast line.

Full of maritime mayhem and histories of pirates, Spannish Armadas, Shipwrecks, Norman invasions, Earls, devils and refuge islands for Ireland rebellious leaders, this seriously leisurely tour, will show you, one of Ireland oldest and most historic counties and coast line.

The tour concentrates on the 'south of the county' offering a hearty, sea air filled ,coastal 170Km tour as well as a 100Km tour.


Witness Ireland clearest sea water off the Hook head at the Hook Lighthouse, before traveling back towards the 12th Century Cistercian Tintern Abbey, Baginbun Bay and Bannow Bay, the sites of the first Norman invasion in 1169.

The tour will also pass by the Duncannon fortification at the Crook Peninsula, built in anticipation of an attack from the Spannish Armada, before passing by Wexfords Loftus Hall, and the hidden gem that is Dollar bay on the Hook Peninsula, while also passing through the holiday village of Fethard on Sea and nearby to Dunbrody abbey and the culinary Dunbrody house.

The tour provides the coastal vista over Bannow bay and the Saltees islands, Cullenstown strand, and the idyllic village of Saltmills.

The tour passes south of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Arboretum and continues towards the thatched cottage fishing village of Kilmore quay, nestled in the south east corner of Ireland, with a vista out to the Saltee Islands, before heading towards Rosslare strand and the Tusker rock lighthouse.

The tour route provides ample towns, villages, historical landmarks and places to stop, soak up the sunshine and enjoy your day at your pace, in locations that you have heard of but never before visited.

This tour promises a memorable location tour, based upon where you were, rather than your mileage for the day.

Strawberries are anticipated only !! Sunshine anticipated !!.

A broad outline of the course will be posted soon fromr Ride with GPS, highlighting the ascents, however as the tour is largely coastal, the climbing is minimal.



Details are being finalised. This event is not on the cycling Ireland Calander and follows the day after the Tour of Kilkenny.

On-line booking will be available in the coming days.

Further updates will be posted here.

20 euro entry, sharing with the Irish Pilgrimage trust charity.

smacl

One for the diary so, my father lives near Duncannon and the ring of hook, saltmills and bannow bay are regular spins. What type of distances are we talking about and where's the start/finish?

Darkglasses

Sounds great, may well sign up for that.

michael196

smacl wrote: »

One for the diary so, my father lives near Duncannon and the ring of hook, saltmills and bannow bay are regular spins. What type of distances are we talking about and where's the start/finish?

start finish is wexford town, and the tour offers 100k or 170 km

distances to be finalised


format for the shorter 100K route is wexford to wellington brigde then either the Kilmore loop or the Hook Loop, distances to be finalised

michael196

http://www.wexfordwheelers.comWexford wheelers tour of Wexford. Concentrating on the Hook peninsula.
Designed to stop at the cafes at Duncannon fort, tintern abbey Hook lighthouse and Kilmore quay ( tyr the fish goujons in kilmore ) as well as food at the finish.


See the Bay where the Normans first came to Ireland ( before Celtic Link Ferries started up in Rosslare !! ) , historic Tintern Abbey, Cromwells 'by Hook or by Crook', Pirates Dollar Bay, Saltmills village, Bannow Bay,

Bagnel Harveys Saltee Islands, WW2 bombed Campile, the National Heritage Park, Cullenstown Strand: Dunbrody abbey, Sliabh coillte of the John F Kennedy Arboretum, the Spannish armada forification at Duncanon Fort, the yachts at kilmore quay, Rosslare Strand, Wexfords Pikemen statue, Forth mountain, Slade Castle. Loftus Hall, the Browne Clayton memorial.


Mass start: controlled pace: lead cars.

We Promise you a good one lads and lassies.

michael196

Presentation3.JPG

531

This sounds good. I assume there will be no climbs? Will there be strawberries at the finish?

michael196

Tintern Abbey, Dunbrody Abbey, Loftus Hall and the Hook Lighthouse.



Some Route reconnaissance today,

brill little sportive cafe right oposite Dunbrody Abbey,

great lawn type yard to get the bikes off the road, with home cooking on supply from Gretta O Connor

complete with a Maze out the back , facilities etc. museum from the abbey


Same day we heard the tragic news that the cafe in Tintern had been burnt down recently, however the Wexford Tour Will still call to the grounds, because a lot of people have never seen Tintern abbey.



BBQ alos on the cards at another Cafe at the Hook Lighthouse as well as a water stop at Loftus Hall...

531

Loftus Hall:eek:? The devil might steal our bikes, or leave tacks all over the road, or make thunder and lightening as we pass.

michael196

visited Loftus recently as part of the preparations, the vista out onto the Suir Estuary to sea, from the Loftus hall park, was spectacular

smacl

michael196 wrote: »

visited Loftus recently as part of the preparations, the vista out onto the Suir Estuary to sea, from the Loftus hall park, was spectacular

Didn't realise there was any public access, would love to have a look around there some time, looks fascinating.

michael196

the house itself has no access just yet, but the grounds are open. cycling tours are running from the grounds. but such a rare vista to witness out to sea and the crook peninsula .


still a spooky building there ! though,

531

Was driving down around Hook Head earlier today and noticed the markings on the road for the tour. Somebody has been doing alot of good work.

michael196

Updates on the Tour of Wexford ; Sunday August 5th:

Hosted by Wexford Wheelers Cycling Club:

In aid of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Respite home in Kilrane Co Wexford.





Sign on:

Sign on will be at St Josephs Community Center Bishopswater. Wexford Town Open from 7:30 am:

Registration on the day at the sign on venue. No online registration.

Located at :
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1515321


Mass Start: all tour routes start at 09:00 am as all three routes share the first 50 km.


Food stops:

The Main Official food stops:
Where the Irish Pilgrimmage Trust will provide sandwichs and refreshments are :

1) Dunbrody Abbey.
2) Loftus hall on the Hook Peninsula
3) Wellington bridge
4) Tour end at Bishopswater Wexford
These will be road marked as ‘stop’.


Cafes en route:
other available stops where an open commercial cafe operate will be at :
1) Dunbrody Abbey,food stop and cafe open in Dunbrody abbey
2) Hook Head Lighthouse ,
3) Kilmore quay ,
These will be marked as ‘stop’.


Signature food : Wexford Strawberries and Paganin Desserts :

The signature food of the Tour of Wexford will be Wheelocks Strawberries and Paganini Desserts which will be served at the tour end.


www.paganini.ie




Routes:

Three routes

155: KM
Wexford- Newbawn -Gausserane-Camplile-Dundrody-Ballyhack-Duncannon-Loftus Hall-Hook Head-Fethard on Sea-Saltmills- St Kierans-Tintern-Wellngton Bridge-Cullenstown strand-Duncormick-Kilmore-Tagoat-Wexford.

Ride with GPS:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1366762

Food stops for the 155K Tour:
Dunbrody Abbey,food stop and cafe open in Dunbrody abbey
Loftus Hall @60K , Official Tour Food point.
(optional Hook Head @65K ), Commercial cafe at the stop
Wellington Bridge @ 100K , Official Tour Food point.
(optional Kilmore Quay @ 130K ). Commercial shop at the stop.
Bishopswater, Wexford , Tour End.


100Km
Wexford- Newbawn -Gausserane-Camplile-Dundrody-Ballyhack- Duncannon-Loftus Hall- Fethard on Sea-Saltmills- St Kierans-Tintern-Wellngton Bridge-Wexford.
(does not go to the Hook and goes straight to Wexford after Wellington bridge).


Ride with GPS:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1411819

Food stops for the 100K Tour:
Dunbrody Abbey,food stop and cafe open in Dunbrody abbey
Loftus Hall @60K , Official Tour Food point.
Wellington Bridge @ 80K , Official Tour Food point.
Bishopswater, Wexford , Tour End.


80 Km
Wexford- Newbawn -Gausserane-Camplile-Dundrody-Ballyhack- -Wellngton Bridge-Wexford.
( does not go onto the Hook Peninsula at all, and goes straight to Wexford after Wellington bridge


Ride with GPS:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1470271

Food stops for the 80K Tour:
Dunbrody Abbey,food stop and cafe open in Dunbrody abbey
Wellington Bridge @ 60K , Official Tour Food point.
Bishopswater, Wexford , Tour End.


Support Cars:
1) lead cars
2) Broom / mechanic



Contact Us:

http://www.wexfordwheelers.com/index.php/contact-us/


Start Location:
St Joseph community Center, Bishopswater, Wexford, Co Wexford.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1515321

Weather: will be present:

531

I hope all the historical references in the first post have been authenticated and verified by the club Historian.

This should be good, I'm looking forward to it.

Hotchip

Is there online registration for this or do you just pay on the day?
Any chance the sun will be shining too?:)

CHeers

michael196

we did not get on line registration sorted out in time , so registration is on the day at sign on .


regards Michael

michael196

New food stop now at Dundrody as well as a full open cafe

Formosa

Might pop down for the 80km Sunday morning, depends on how the body holds up after 70km in Kilkenny on Saturday...I think I should be grand.

Darkglasses

Won't be taking part this time sadly, haven't had any preparation. Next year definitely. Its going very near my house, so i may pop down and take some pictures if you like Michael!

531

Formosa wrote: »

Might pop down for the 80km Sunday morning, depends on how the body holds up after 70km in Kilkenny on Saturday...I think I should be grand.

You WILL be grand. It is a flat route, a little draggy in parts but NO climbs.

531

According to this,

http://www.met.ie/forecasts/5day-ireland.asp

South Wexford, the location for the tour, will not have rain until Sunday evening.

michael196

Brave Souls preseved themselves on the tour of Kilkenny in order to take on the 155 Tour of Wexford the sunday august 5th,


Maybe thats an ingenoius '2-day' for next year ..... ???


Partner with Marble : Kilkenny first followed by Wexford.

Headdy

great spin today - wexford wheelers are a great crowd. weather was great for the best sights - as far as saltmills. rain was as bad as I ever seen after wellington bridge but made the challenge more 'interesting'

531

michael196 wrote: »

Brave Souls preseved themselves on the tour of Kilkenny in order to take on the 155 Tour of Wexford the sunday august 5th,


Maybe thats an ingenoius '2-day' for next year ..... ???


Partner with Marble : Kilkenny first followed by Wexford.

Why not move the Sean Kelly Tour forward to the bank holiday weekend and make it a South East 3 Day?!:eek:

531

Great route, well marshalled, great food and facilities after. Well done to all involved. Torrential downpour in the middle but the sun returned before the finish to dry us out again.